Faculty Senate Bylaws
Article I – Designation & Function
Section 1. Identification
1.1 Name: The name of this organization shall be the College of Eastern Idaho Faculty Senate.
1.2 Faculty Senate is a voluntary, collegial association of the faculty of the College of Eastern Idaho that is recognized as the voice of faculty by the College. It is established to represent the faculty of College of Eastern Idaho, and to serve as a forum for faculty participation in shared governance, academic affairs and institutional decision-making.
1.3 Faculty Senate will serve as a liaison between the faculty and non-faculty entities of the College.
Section 2. Purpose
2.1 Faculty Senate provides a forum for faculty members to explore ideas and voice concerns.
2.2 When action is required, Faculty Senate will render the majority opinion of participating faculty to administration or the Board of Trustees for the College (the Board).
Section 3. Mission
3.1 The Faculty Senate is conceived as an assembly through which faculty members may exercise a collective and independent voice in the governance of the College.
3.2 Senators will work to foster ongoing discussions with institutional members to ensure faculty perspective is voiced on college-wide issues. The purview of Faculty Senate shall extend to, but not be limited to, the following:
- Presenting faculty views and recommendations to the administration or Board, as they relate to policies governing the College, academics, and professional matters;
- Being an integral part of the instructional and student support programs, policymaking, and growth plans of the College;
- To ensure academic freedom and due process.
- Advancing faculty participation in college governance, and in academic, instructional, and student success policies;
- Promoting faculty primacy in the establishment and implementation of academic, student success policies;
- Representing the faculty perspective and interests in decision-making at the College;
- Promote thoughtful discourse and deliberation that invites and incorporates diverse perspectives in the College planning and governance;
- Develop cooperation and fellowship among the instructional and non-instructional faculty, and between the faculty and other constituencies of the College community;
- Adhere to professional ethics and standards with respect to academic and professional issues.
- Cultivate a sense of community among faculty and other constituencies of the College.
Article II – Membership & Eligibility
Section 1. Membership
1.1 Membership in Faculty Senate (all faculty) is open to all full- and part-time faculty members employed by the College. Membership is voluntary and requires no dues.
1.2 Faculty is defined as those persons who hold instructional positions as full- and part-time (adjunct) employees of the College.
1.3 An administrator is defined as those persons who primarily serve in a supervisory and/or managerial capacity over faculty. Membership to Faculty Senate will be reserved for faculty members. Anyone who meets the definition of administrator is excluded from faculty senate even if he or she also meets the definition of faculty.
1.4 Constituents eligible to vote for faculty senators will include full-time faculty members (12-credits per semester), adjunct and part-time faculty.
1.5 Part-time and/or adjunct faculty members may elect two (2) senators to serve as “at large” members on Faculty Senate. These senators will serve as the representatives for all part-time faculty members employed by the College.
1.6 For the purposes of these Bylaws, Faculty Senate may extend an ex officio status to a faculty and/or non-faculty representative. The position of an ex officio member will be supervised by the Chairperson; an ex officio member serves as a non-voting participant.
Article III – Senators, Selection, & Recall
Section 1. Apportionment & Voting
1.1 The faculty senate shall consist of elected representatives from each academic department or discipline, with representation proportional to the number of faculty members within each department or discipline. Senate seats will be apportioned from the education units within the College as follows: Three (3) faculty members from Career Technical Education (CTE); Three (3) faculty members from General Education (GenEd); Three (3) faculty members from Health Sciences (HS); Two (2) faculty members from the College & Career Readiness (CCR)(formerly known as Adult Basic Education); Three (3) faculty members from Workforce Training (WT) and Two (2) at large, part-time faculty members will represent all adjunct faculty (ADJ). Numbers and distribution of senators will be reviewed annually in response to growth within the college. These reviews will utilize data from Fall semester enrollment.
1.2 Faculty senators will be elected by faculty unit peers in an apportionment consistent with Section 1.1.
1.3 Elections will be conducted for each faculty unit, as outlined in Section 1, by unit members. The names of the senators-elect will be sent to the Faculty Senate Chairperson by the last day of instruction in May. Elected senators will be eligible for re-election.
1.4 Senators will be elected to Faculty Senate on a staggered basis. CTE, HS and CCR will elect senator representatives during EVEN years, and GenEd, WT and Part-time/adjunct (at large) faculty will elect representatives in ODD years.
1.5 Each senator is eligible to cast one vote, with the Senate Chairperson serving in a non-voting capacity (unless needed to break a tie vote).
1.6 A faculty unit who opts not to elect a senator(s) to Faculty Senate may elect a staff member from that unit, or will lose the seat and the vacancy will be filled by Faculty Senate, with a nominee of its own choosing.
Section 2. Term of Office
2.1 Each Senator shall serve a 2 -year term commencing on July 1 of the year in which elected.
2.2 The Senate President will serve an additional year as Past-President, an “advisor” to mentor incoming officers and provide assistance in conducting Faculty Senate affairs.
Section 3. Vacancies
3.1 In the event a Senate position is vacated prior to the expiration of a term, the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson (Co-Chairs) will notify the appropriate faculty unit, who may elect to hold a “special” election within (10) days of notice to fill the unexpired term.
3.2 If a faculty unit is unable to fill a senate seat, the Faculty Chair will appoint a senator.
Section 4. Dismissal of Senator
4.1 Dismissal of any Senator Officer requires a majority vote by Faculty Senate.
4.2 Faculty Senate may remove a senator from Senate if they fail to participate in Senate in a meaningful manner or fail to complete assigned tasks in a timely or satisfactory manner or fail to (regularly) attend meetings or functions.
4.3 No appeal is permitted under this Section.
4.4 To the extent possible, the Chair will appoint a senator from the respective faculty unit to fill a vacancy under this section.
Section 5. Removal of Senators
5.1 By petition, an elected senator may be recalled by eligible members from their faculty unit. The petition must state the grounds for the removal and contain (1/3) of the signatures from the senator’s faculty unit.
5.2 A petition for removal will be submitted to the Chair who will notify the faculty unit members within (5) days of receipt of the petition. The faculty unit members will select a new senator within (15) days thereafter to fill the unexpired term.
5.3 If no nominee is made or comes forward, Faculty Senate reserves the right to fill the vacancy.
5.4 A senator who is recalled for non-attendance may not file an appeal. If removal is based on other grounds, the opposed senator may submit a written appeal to the Chair within (5) days of notice
of removal. The Senate will decide on an appeal within (10) days of its receipt by a majority vote; the Chair will notify faculty unit of the outcome of the appeal thereafter.
5.5 On a limited basis, a senator may designate a proxy to attend a Faculty Senate meeting by providing advance notice to the Chairperson. A senator accruing more than two (2) absences within a semester is subject to dismissal by the Faculty Senate for non-attendance (See Section 5.4).
Article IV – Officers & Duties
Section 1. Selection of Officers
1.1 The selection of Faculty Senate officers will be by majority vote of the elected Senators.
1.2 Officers will consist of a President and Vice President (Co-Chairs), Secretary and Treasurer. Co-Chairs may appoint other officers to facilitate senate affairs.
1.3 The President shall serve a 1-year active term, and remain as past-president the following term.
1.4 The Vice-President shall serve a 1-year term.
1.5 The Secretary and Treasurer shall serve a 1-year term.
1.6 Faculty Senate will elect officers each Spring to accommodate changing teaching workloads for senators. Officers may be re-elected within their term of service; office will be assumed on July 1.
1.7 Officers may remain longer than one term by re-election only.
Section 2. Duties of President
2.1 The President will serve as Chairperson and is the official spokesperson for Faculty Senate and Council, including faculty non-contract days. The president shall serve a 1-year term.
2.2 The Chairperson’s duties will include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Meet with the College President on a regular basis to discuss faculty concerns and serve as the general representative of the faculty body.
- Schedule all faculty meetings during faculty in-service each semester by coordinating with administration to have said meeting placed on the in-service agenda.
- Conduct Faculty Senate and Council meetings by scheduling, preparing agendas, and communicating planning details to faculty at large.
- Schedule, notify, and preside over Faculty Senate and Council meetings.
- Report to the Senate on the topics and discussions held with the administration or Board.
- To ensure all seats and offices are filled on Faculty Senate, and to take action to facilitate representation in a manner consistent with these Bylaws.
- To initiate and/or preside over senator removal proceedings.
- Oversee the minutes to ensure they are recorded, reviewed for accuracy, are disseminated to all faculty, with hard copies retained and posted.
- Attending regularly scheduled Board of Trustee meetings; may appoint a proxy as needed.
- Ensure faculty handbook is up to date and available to faculty.
- Make appointments to Senate committees and fill senate vacancies.
- Oversee functions of senate committees.
- Serve as an ex officio member on all Senate committees.
- Perform other duties as prescribed in the Bylaws and further assist Faculty Senate in its operations.
Section 3. Duties of the Past president
3.1 Attend Senate meetings as a non-voting participant and advisor to president.
3.2 Collaborate with Senate officers on review of the senate documents, webpage, and other functions within the purview of the Senate.
3.3 Perform other duties as directed by the Chairperson-elect or prescribed in the Bylaws/Best Practices.
Section 4. Duties of Vice-President
4.1 Perform the duties of the Chairperson in the Chair’s absence.
4.2. Serve as a parliamentarian at all meetings of the Senate and Council.
4.3 Review the founding documents of Faculty Senate and recommend amendments. Maintain the CEI (College of Eastern Idaho) Faculty Council webpage content.
4.4 Coordinate efforts with the Chair to assist in the oversight of Senate and Council affairs.
4.5 Perform other duties as directed by the Chair or prescribed by the Bylaws/Best Practices.
Section 5. Duties of Secretary
5.1 The secretary shall keep accurate records of all meetings and proceedings of the faculty senate, maintain official correspondence, and manage official documents.
5.2 The secretary shall provide a meeting summary to all faculty after the conclusion of all meetings.
Section 6. Duties of Treasurer
6.1 The treasurer shall manage the financial affairs of the Faculty Senate, maintain accurate financial records, and provide regular financial reports to the Faculty Senate.
Article V – Meetings
Section 1. All Faculty Meetings
1.1 There will be at least one(1) all faculty meeting each semester, with one (1) all faculty meeting scheduled during each fall-term faculty in-service session.
- Outgoing senator members will be responsible for serving as a liaison with new senator members and administration to ensure an all faculty meeting is scheduled for the next in-service.
1.2 All faculty senate meetings are open to all faculty members. Faculty Senate may invite non-faculty participants to attend for purposes of furthering scholarship, aiding in discussion, and understanding, or presenting information on issues relevant to faculty agenda.
1.3 Unless already arranged, Faculty Senate may designate a faculty attendee to serve as a “recording” secretary during a meeting to take minutes and/or perform administrative support functions.
1.4 Co-Chairs may conduct Senate matters by meeting or email.
1.5 Faculty may request a special all faculty meeting by submitting a request to the Chair, who will determine a date/time for a meeting; said faculty member will provide the Chair with an agenda. The meeting will be conducted in the same manner as a regular all faculty meeting.
1.6 All faculty meetings will be scheduled by the Co-Chairs, with notice given five (5) days prior to the date and time of the meeting. Chairs will be responsible for reserving a location for all meetings.
1.7 Eligible faculty members may vote on Faculty Senate proposals by a majority vote of attending faculty members. Voting is permitted by blind ballot or by email, as determined by Senate.
Section 2. Senate Meetings
2.1 The Faculty Senate shall hold regular, monthly meetings during the academic year when all faculty senators are on contract. Special meetings of the Faculty Senate may be called by the President or upon written request of members.
2.2 Faculty Senate decisions shall be made by a simple majority of elected senator attendees.
2.3 A quorum for conducting business at Faculty Senate meetings shall be a simple majority of members present.
2.4 Faculty Senate may utilize ad-hoc committees to carry out the functions of Senate.
2.5 Co-Chairs may invite people from outside the Faculty Senate to present information on issues relevant to the Senate's agenda.
2.6 Faculty Senate reserves the right to exercise powers necessary to facilitate Senate functions in the event eligible faculty members do not provide timely input and/or elect to vote.
2.7 Senate meetings will be announced and supported by minutes via email outlining Senate attendees, discussions, and next steps.
Article VI – Sessions & Committees
Section 1. Executive Session
1.1 Faculty Senate executive sessions are closed to persons other than elected senate members.
1.2 Other persons may attend an executive session by special invitation of the Co-Chairs. Executive sessions serve as a steering committee for Faculty Senate.
1.3 Executive Sessions will be announced to all faculty and minutes provided.
Section 2. Ad-Hoc Committees
2.1 Standing and ad-hoc committees may be appointed by the Senate. The powers and responsibilities of all committees will be delegated by the Senate, only. Ad-hoc committee members will report directly to the Senate.
2.3 The size, purpose, and membership of an ad-hoc committee will be determined by the Senate and, upon completion of the assigned tasks, will be dissolved by the Senate.
2.4 The duration of an ad-hoc committee will be determined by the Senate.
Article VII – Amendments
Section 3. Amending Bylaws
1.1 Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Senate. Upon review of an amendment, the Senate will submit it to all faculty for review. Ratification of an amendment will be made by a simple majority of all eligible voting faculty members.
1.2 Senate will submit a proposed amendment to all faculty within two (2) weeks of receipt. Voting will be conducted in a matter determined by Senate; no amendment will be retroactive.
1.3 Co-Chairs will provide voting results within one (1) week of a vote. The Vice-Chair will amend the Bylaws and post them to the Faculty Senate folder on the O: Drive.
1.6 The Secretary of the Faculty Senate shall make available copies of Bylaw updates within (30) days of the vote.
Article VIII
Section 1. Ratification
These bylaws shall be ratified upon approval by a simple majority vote of the Faculty Senate members present at a regular meeting.
Article IX – Collaboration & Institutional Governance
Section 1. Collaboration
1.1 As the College of Eastern Idaho grows, the opportunity for collaborative ventures will expand. Collaborative projects will afford faculty the opportunity to work with other institutional members and councils to promote strategic relationships to advance faculty interests. The Faculty Senate will serve to articulate instructional principles and practices that align with the institution’s mission but also serve to promote what faculty do and how they are recognized and rewarded.
1.2 Faculty Senate officers will promote reciprocal understandings between faculty and administration to enhance faculty careers at the College of Eastern Idaho, while achieving practical ways faculty and administration can become better collaborators in creating a more dynamic learning environment for students (McMillin and Berberet 2002, 22).
1.3 Reciprocal understandings will serve to establish that outcomes from collaborative ventures be observed by Academic Compacts that outline the roles of the parties as far as their duties, agreement details, and deadlines.
(i) Compacts may include workload, professional development opportunities, institutional service, leadership, evaluation, recognition, rewards.
(ii) Compacts may include negotiated details that facilitate understanding between the faculty body and the institution, as both are interdependent and committed to creating a successful learning environment for students.
1.4 The Senate Co-Chairs will work with other committees and executive councils (e.g., Staff Senate, Council of Deans and Managers), or their equivalent, to explore new ideas and foster greater institutional citizenship.
1.5 Faculty Senate Co-Chairs will be committed “to overcoming local hierarchies that may lock individuals into specific positions of power and authority in specific historical and political contexts.” Co-Chairs will strive to demonstrate leadership by “looking across the dichotomy that normally separates institutional partners and look instead beyond obstacles for places of mutual benefit and understanding.”[1]
Section 2. Shared Governance
2.1 Faculty Senate will be committed to promoting an ascendancy that moves towards a “flatter, better networked, decentralized governance structure…”[2] and fostering a paradigm that all members of the institution are dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the sharing of that knowledge with others.
2.2 Viability of the institution depends on the viability of all its stakeholders; therefore, we are all guardians of the College in safeguarding the institution’s integrity and vibrancy.